But Belichick was at a recent Notre Dame coaches clinic and was reportedly on Illinois’ campus this spring checking on potential draft picks.

“I guess they pay better,” O’Brien said of the Fighting Irish. “Coach Belichick is a great friend and someone I respect and look up to, so hopefully eventually we can bring him in to speak to our team and speak to our high school coaches.”

Bears’ season ends. A goal by Jamie Tardif at 9:20 of the third period kept Providence from becoming the fist top-seeded team to be ousted in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs since the 1995-96 Albany River Rats defeated Hershey. The Bruins won Game 5 3-2 on Wednesday night.

This time it was the Bears on the other side, trying to knock off the Bruins on their home ice. Hershey took the first two games in Providence, but couldn’t take one of the next three.